Joseph Thomas Piraneo
PFC Joseph T. Piraneo was a Marine Corps gunner who flew with VMSB-241.
He was shot down and reported missing in the battle of Midway on 4 June 1942.
Branch
Marine Corps Regular
Service Number 309271
Current Status
Remains not recovered.
Pursuit Category
Based on circumstances of loss, this individual is considered permanently non-recoverable.
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
November 15, 1919
at Summit, NJ
Parents
Carlo Francesco Piraneo
Maria (Sanzaro) Piraneo
Education
Summit High School (1939)
Occupation & Employer
Ice cream maker
Service Life
Entered Service
May 22, 1941
at New York, NY
Home Of Record
24 Chestnut Avenue
Summit, NJ
Next Of Kin
Parents, Carlo & Maria Piraneo
Military Specialty
Radioman / Gunner
Primary Unit
VMSB-241
Campaigns Served
Midway
Individual Decorations
Distinguished Flying Cross
Purple Heart
Additional Service Details
—
Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
Private First Class Joe Piraneo was a Marine pilot with VMSB-241, a scout-bomber squadron based at Midway Island in 1942. He was part of the Fourth Section, First Division, led by Major Lofton R. Henderson, and usually flew with a fellow New Jersey native, 2Lt. Bruno P. Hagedorn, as his pilot.
At 0610 hours on 4 June 1942, VMSB-241 took off from Midway and rendezvoused at “Point Affirm” – a safe distance from the airfield, out of the way of an incoming Japanese strike force. A radio message sent them on course to attack an enemy carrier; a two-hour flight brought them within sight of the IJN Hiryū. The carrier sent up a wall of flak, and her fighters quickly climbed to engage the unescorted American bombers.
In the chaos and violence of the attack, SBD-2 Dauntless #2139 fell victim to a Japanese fighter or anti-aircraft gunner. No eyewitness accounts report seeing Hagedorn and Piraneo fall, but they did not return from the Hiryū strike. Both Marines were officially declared dead on 5 June 1943.
Burial Information or Disposition
Shot down at sea; remains not recovered.
Next Of Kin Address
Address of parents, Carlo & Maria Piraneo.
Location Of Loss
Piraneo was shot down at an unspecified point after departing from Midway.
Comment from Carl Piraneo
14 March 2014
Uncle Joe,
Although I would never meet you, your presence was always honored in our family.
My father (your little brother), Herman, had your picture displayed in our home for his entire life life. The world is a better place for your bravery and service.
Carl H. Piraneo